VC++ versus VB

[Daniel Jenkins]

I'm currently charged with the task of writing a customized business
application. This app will perform order entry, invoicing, accounting, etc.
type tasks.

Can anyone justify a decision to write this app in VC++.net as opposed to
writing it in VB.net?

Assumptions:
everyone in department knows both languages.
we have access to all needed resources.
we're using Windows 2000 server with 98/XP clients.
no SET time scale as of yet.

Your replies would be deeply appreciated.

 

[Ben Taylor]

Evaluate how complex it is, and decide whether it involves
features that can't be done in VB very easily/well (such
as multithreading, graphics, device manipulation, complex
time-consuming arithmetic etc.) and if it does, then write
it in C++, and don't look back. There's nothing more
annoying than trying to kludge VB. However if it doesn't,
write it in VB. You'll save yourself lots of time. Knock
up a prototype of a simulation of the most complex
operation using each language, and test it on the Win98
and the 2000/XP computers. Bear in mind that C++ can do
things seamlessly that VB has difficulty with - such as
graphics and animation, multithreading, complex arithmetic
and hardware interaction, but VB can do mostly everything
else, and applications constructed in VB can be extremely
professional. However I suppose it's a lot to do with what
*most* of your developers know *best*. Maybe you could
develop it in both? Perhaps build ActiveX controls or DLLs
in C++, and the front end in VB? Feel free to hire me
aswell if you like, I'm quite cheap.